NORTHAMPTON — Accused murdered Ryan D. Welch pleaded not guilty to stabbing a fellow inmate at the Hampshire County House of Correction with a pen Friday in Northampton District Court.

Welch, 37, is in jail awaiting trial on charges that he killed his girlfriend, Jessica Pripstein, at her Easthampton apartment in February 2012. Pripstein had telephoned police saying her boyfriend was trying to kill her. When they arrived at her apartment, they found Pripstein dead, her throat slashed. Police found Welch in another room with non-fatal wounds. He has been in custody ever since.

According to court documents, Welch got into a scuffle with a fellow inmate on March 6, taking the phone from the inmate by force and hanging it up. The inmate, who was described as also awaiting trial, told investigators that Welch then "came at him" with a ballpoint pen. The man suffered a stab wound to the forehead consistent with a ballpoint pen and also had ink marks on his forehead, according to court files.

Welch is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery and disturbing a correctional institute. Judge W. Michael Goggins continued the matter to July 18 and set bail at $100. Although Welch is already in custody, setting bail will give him credit for time served on the charges, if he is eventually convicted.

His murder trial, which has been delayed for more than a year, is now scheduled for September. Welch originally complained that he was being denied access to evidence at the jail, filing several motions on his own behalf. The judge refused to rule on them, saying it was up to Welch's lawyer to file the motions.

Welch then tried to get rid of his court-appointed lawyer, Paul Rudof, who finally filed his own motion to withdraw. The court granted Welch's request to represent himself, but he changed his mind as his trial date approached and another lawyer was appointed for him.